Best water machine for under $600 used?

[Silver Surfer]

Looking to get a machine that I can use when I freedive or scuba.. It would have to be waterproof. Any and all suggestions appreciated. I love my MXT, so wondering how the Whites waterproof machine would be..

Thanks!

 

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[erikk]

Check out the Sea Hunter MK2 U can get a new one for around $600 and it is good machine if U can live with a PI

 

[digum smacks]

what he said for the money you cant beat the sea hunter mark2

 

[S.S.Tupperware]

My DF has never leaked

 

[chipveres]

Another vote for the Garrett Sea Hunter. It's way solid and I only paid $200 for mine.

Chip V.

 

[stitchlips]

I got my excal for about $550 used on feebay. If you pay with paypal, you have 30 days to dispute the item. You can think of it as a 30 day warranty.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Thanks guys... The Beach Hunter 300 ID sure gets a lot of rave reviews... Pretty spendy new though.. Anyone know anything about the 1280 Aquanaut? It seems to have good reviews too.. Not as expensive either..

 

[Da Sand Crab]

I would go with either Minelab or Tesoro. You can get a Tesoro Sand Shark for about 600.00 brand new. It should have a lifetime warranty, (I've heard speculation on this forum of a breakdown in this area), I am trying to take real good care of mine so I don't have to find out if the rumors are true. It's tough and durable. Of course it is a P.I. detector, so it will detect even the smallest piece of iron which translates to alot of digging. As someone mentioned, You can occasionally find the covented Minelab Xcal used for 600.00, but I would be leary as to why it would be that cheap as they usually go for 800.00 to 900.00 used and in good condition. These two brands of detectors are used by at least 90 percent of the hunters on this forum which translates to a lot of experience and access to any questions you might have concerning them. I hope this helps.

 

[Silver Surfer]

What is the difference between the Sand Shark and the Tiger Shark? I see two of those for sale on epay...

 

[nuggetshooter]

The Fisher 1280X is an excellent machine, but it is a single frequency detector and it is not designed for salt water use although some claim that it can be used with success in saltwater. The Fisher CZ-21 is a dual frequency machine (always locked in the salt mode) and can be used in both fresh and salt water and is waterproof down to 250 feet. They are sturdy and can be used for land, water, and scuba hunting. Lots of good accounts for the CZs and the Minelab Excaliburs as well. I have seen a number if Excals for sale in your price range recently, but have not seen hardly any CZs for sale. It all depends on what you like to listen to and what you can find in your price range. I have been out about 12 times now with my CZ and have had good luck finding some jewelry recently with it. With one of the rings (silver) I found, it was below a bottle cap. I got a low/high tone indicating iron and a good target. The ring was in the second scoop below the scoop that held the bottle cap. Both targets were in in shallow fresh watter -- about knee deep. The CZ is simple to operate but es not give you as much feedback (multi tone responses) as the Excalibur. Good luck.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Found a 5 yr old Excal that has just been recently completely rebuilt by Minelab, with paper to prove it... Guess it wouldnt go "silent threshold", he sent it in, and they upgraded and replaced just about everything.. Even gave him the newer battery pack.. Looks like new... Along with a Sunray S12 coil, the standard 10" on the machine, and the straight shaft...
I pick it up when I meet him in Miami on monday to hunt for a couple days...
Hope I can learn it quickly..

 

[jyt2017]

Find yourself an aquanaut about 5 years old. Spend between 250-400. Just getting you started...in fresh water. Something for salt water...not sure. Minelab

Thanks guys... The Beach Hunter 300 ID sure gets a lot of rave reviews... Pretty spendy new though.. Anyone know anything about the 1280 Aquanaut? It seems to have good reviews too.. Not as expensive either..

 

[Sandman]

The Beach Hunter ID 300 gets fav reviews from dudes that don't take it in the water or have arms like Popeye. The coil on this detector floats like a cork so you aways have to hole it down near the bottom. Also I haven't met one that didn't leak even with the orange O rings. An even if they didn't leak, they are only rated to 25 foot. I am not against White's, just this one for the water.

The Tiger Shark is a VLF and the Sand Shark is a Pulse. Both are very good with the nod going to the Tiger for freshwater due to hairpins lasting decades in freshwater. There is nothing wrong with the Sea Hunter Mark II and is a capable Pulse detector.

Everything that was said about the CZ-21 or 20 is true. Built like a tank and able to go into the wet 250 foot, though I only have had it down at about 160 the deepest I have dove. Batteries are seperated from the electronics so even if you didn't secure the door properly the guts are protected. I like it as much as my Excal. 1280 is fine for freshwater and I still use it sometimes.

 

[OBN]

I've had very good luck on feebay, just have to wait for the right one to come along, watch the sellers feed back..most of the time I will only go with a 1oo% and over a 100 transactions. I have lost a few and won a few good deals. I use a auction sniper, which will bid for you at the last few seconds, and most of the time it works. I have won, a DFX..495..2 excals..525, and 565..I did get a SE for 800, at the time it was a good price, and recently I nail a CZ20 for a great price...looks New {not even a scratch on the coil cover?}..........they are rare on feebay, if you have the time..it is worth waiting. You can't go wrong with the Excal.......Good Luck....joe

 

[Indasurf]

I DO go into the water with my Beach Hunter 300! I use the chest mount and an after market shaft without any issues.

I've NEVER heard any one complain about the Beach Hunter 300 having any leaking issues, and to keep repeating that is not too cool.

I luv the "300" and have found many great things both in and out of the water with it (plenty of gold)

Thanks!

 

[BobVA]

After a lot of research, I picked up a Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II for a little less than $500 on Craigslist this week. Got it Wednesday and have not taken it out other than for an air test. This is one solid detector. As luck would have it, I saw another one yesterday on CL for a little over $300. Heck of a bargin!!!! I also looked seriously at the White's as I'm a VERY satisfied MXT owner, but price was the deciding factor.

 

[jyt2017]

Buy the 300 one, pick the better of the two and sell the other....woot.

After a lot of research, I picked up a Garrett Sea Hunter Mark II for a little less than $500 on Craigslist this week. Got it Wednesday and have not taken it out other than for an air test. This is one solid detector. As luck would have it, I saw another one yesterday on CL for a little over $300. Heck of a bargin!!!! I also looked seriously at the White's as I'm a VERY satisfied MXT owner, but price was the deciding factor.

 

[Silver Surfer]

Ended up not getting that particular Excal, since the night before we were to meet he was checking it out, and the headphones had a short in them
BUT...
The same night he called me, I saw a post on another forum where a guy had an Excal II, had bought two of them, and was wanting to get rid of one..
Bought it from him for $900 with a straight shaft and standard shaft, and 2 yrs left on his 3 yr warranty... I have already found gold and silver in the water with it.. First day at freshwater lake near my house, I found two rings in the 1st 10 minutes...
I am gonna love this machine, but still needing to memorize the tones....

Thanks for all the advice though!

 

[pongo]

Sandman ,same old poop,sounds like you have an axe to grind!